Apparatus for determining straightness of axle housings



- July .31, 1951 E ROSS 2,562,213

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING STRAIGHTNESS' 0F AXLE HOUSINGS Filed Jan. 51, 1947 3 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. Emmet L. Ross BY mm H tfo r095 July 31,- 1951 E. L. ROSS APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING STRAIGHTNESS OF AXLE HOUSINGS 3 Sheets-v-Sheet 5 Filed Jan 51. 1947 I N VEN TOR. Emmet L. P055 iknown, construction (not shown). front and rear sides l6. and I! of the enlarge- Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING STRAIGHT- NESS OF AXLE HOUSINGS Emmett L. Ross, Akron, Ohio Application January 31, 1947, Serial No. 725,503

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for straightening vehicle axle housings.

In the past, cold straightening of vehicle axle housings has been generally avoided because of the unavailability of satisfactory straightening equipment, and particularly because of the difficulty encountered. with respect to checking the axle housing to determine when it had been properly straightened. It has been a general practice in repair or service garages, therefore, to replace bent housings with new ones.

One object of the present invention is to provide a powerful straightening device for the purposes described, which is readily accessible for positioning a housing therein for straightening, and which is readily adjustable to accommodate axle housings of varying sizes and proportions as well as those in a wide range of damtaken at either end of Figure 2.

-Figure 4 is atransversecross-section taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view, partly broken away and in section, taken substantially on the line 5+5 of Figure 1, and particularly illustrating improved means for checking the alignment of the axle housing after straightening the same.

Figure 6 is a transverse cross-section taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary rear view of the central portion of the axle housing as viewed from the left of Figure 6.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 to 4 there is illustrated a vehicle axle housing I!) mounted in a straightening device, indicated generally at I l for a straightening operation thereon. The housing i is of known type having an enlarged 'centr'al'portion I2,'sometimes referred to as a banjo, and tubular ends l3 and I4 extending in opposite directions therefrom, these extensions normally being, in axial alignment and there being a passage 15 extending longitudinally through the housing for reception of an axle of The opposite l9, respectively, therein defining annular seats 2|) and M for seating fittings or associated parts (not shown) of the axle housing. These seats have the usual circumferentially spaced threaded apertures 22, '22 and'EiB, 23 normally used for securing said fittings or parts in place, the apertures, however, being utilized for a special purpose in conjunction with the present invention in a manner to be described later.

The straightening'device ll includes a framework having spaced end frames 25, 25, each formed of a rectangular band of metal 2'6 crossbraced by means of a pair of channels 21 and 28 in back-to-back relation, and guide elements 29 and 30, 3| and 32 extending in parallelism between corresponding opposite corners of the spaced frames 25, the various parts of the frame being welded to each other or otherwise rigidly secured in known manner. The guide elements may be standard railroad track sections arranged with central web portions 35 thereof extending radially with respect to a central longi 'tudinal axis of the framework, to present the usual bases 36 of the sections at right angles to radials from said axis of the framework and. with the flat sides of said bases presented inwardly of the framework. In other words, the bases 36 of the guide elements will each be inclined angularly of the horizontal (see Figure To facilitate insertion and removal of some types of housings having obstructing portions, the cross-brace of one end frame 25 may be made removable'endwise from its band 26, as by omission of the welded connections between the ends of channels 21 and 2B and the band and cooperating ends of :the guide elements. For supporting and maintaining the housing [10 .in desired horizontal position for straightening the same in framework ii, a plurality of radial arms 31, 31 are provided with hooked members 38 on outer ends thereof for downward engagement over the upper marginal edge portions 39, 40, 4i, and 42 of the track bases 36, the

arrangement being such that the arms 31 are supported by said marginal portions of the bases 39 and backed by the flat bottoms thereof against outward forces applied to the arms during axle straightening operations.

ber 41 on a relatively fixed part 48, similar to men? 13 have aligned circular openings l8- and 5; the hook members .38, anda relatively movable .diameters.

part 49 may be operable by hydraulic jack means 490.. A head 4% provided on the free end of the movable part 49 of the jack has an arcuate seat 56 for engagement with the tubular portion I3 or I4 of the axle housing I (see Figure 4) A screw jack or other jack means having similar mountings may be utilized in place of a hydraulic jack. The arrangement is such that the arms 3'! may be variously arranged along the guide elements, somewhat as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 to support the housing while the jack 46 is operated to move the part 49 thereof and apply requisite pressure, as for example, against tubular end I3 to straighten the same toward axial alignment with the tubular and I4. It is to be understood that the relatively fixed arms 31 and the extensible jack arm 66 may be arranged along the guide elements 29 to 32 in wide variety of combinations of relative positions thereof, according to the location and particular type of bend to be corrected.

Referring particularly to Figures 5, 6 and '7 there is illustrated in conjunction with the axle housing It, improved means for accurately determining when the housing has been straightened in the apparatus described above. Caps or plugs 5I, 5| are provided with a reduced portion 52 for slidable but snug reception within the ends of the tubular portions I3 and I4 of the housing, these caps having elongated central guide apertures 53, 53 therethrough adapted to be in alignment when the axle housing is straight. Stepped reduced portions 52a, 52b, may be provided on the caps 5| for similarly positioning the caps within tubular ends I3 and I l of varying A fine wire 54 is passed through the apertures 53 of the opposite caps 5|, and made taut between the same within passage I5 by means of weights 55, 55 depending from the free ends 56a, 54a of the wire.

When the axle housing I6 is straight, therefore, the taut wire 54 will coincide with the normal longitudinal center line of the housing, so that if the wire is in proper position it may be utilized to check the accuracy of the straightening work as by sighting it through predetermined sighting means through the openings I8 and I9 of the housing enlargement I2. To this end, a flat adaptor plate or disc 56 is secured against the seat 26 by means of bolts 58 threaded into the apertures 22, this plate having a predeterminately centrally located, relatively small aperture 59 aligned with a similar sighting aperture 66 in the center of a plate or spider 6I, which is secured to the rear seat 2I by means of bolts 62 threaded in the apertures 23. As the enlargement I2 may be materially weakened by the removal of certain parts normally secured to the seats 26 and 2|, the front plate 56 may be reinforced by welding or otherwise securing thereto a dome-shaped reinforcing plate 63 provided with a relatively large central opening 64 for maintaining the sighting apertures 59 and 66 unobscured. For this reinforcing plate, 63, a, standard new or used housing part may be utilized. The rear sighting plate 6I may be open at 65 and 66 as shown for insertion of a measuring rule or the like to determine the transverse location of the wire 54 with respect to the predetermined normal axis of the housing, this location being readily determined by fixing a point between the inner surfaces of the sighting plates 56 and 6|.

It is to be understood that series of adaptor plates 56 and 61, and. series of caps 5I, maybe example, to straightentubular portion I3 of axle housing It into alignment with the tubular end I4 thereof, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2,

the housing is supported on a series of arms 31 arranged along the guide elements 29 and 30, as previously described, one or more of said arms 31 also being placed along the top guide elements SI and 32 in positions to prevent accidental displacement of the housing during straightening operations thereon. The extensible jack arm 46 is next moved to proper location along the guide element 32 and operated to apply requisite leverage to the tubular portion I3 to straighten the same into approximate alignment with the tubular portion I i. This operation may be repeated upon turning the housing within the framework II and rearranging the jack arms as required tocomplete the straightening operation. Upon reaching an approximation of the desired straightened condition of the housing, such straightness is checked by the operator sighting by eye through the apertures 59 and 60 of the sighting plates 56 and 6!. If the wire 54 lies within the line of sight AB (see Figure 6) through the apertures 59 and 60, the tubular ends l3 and it will be in alignment in a plane passing through said line of sight A.B and coextensive with the longitudinal axis of the housing. To determine if the central axis is properly located transversely of the housing, the operator measures the location of the wire, 54 from the inner faces of the sighting plates 56 and BI, with reference to a desired given location as previously described. If the wire 54 is not in the predetermined vertical and transverse locations, the straightening and checking operations are re peated. When the housing is satisfactorily straightened, the sighting or adaptor plates 55 and 6i, and the caps 5| are removed, together with the wire 56.

Thus has been provided improved means for effectively cold straightening axle housing as well as accurate means for determining when the axle housings have been satisfactorily straightened.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparati's for determining the straightness of an axle housing of the type having a longitudinal passage therethrough and having a central portion provided with transversely opposite communicating openings defining outwardly presented seats, comprising means for supporting the housing, an elongated flexible element, means applicable to opposite ends of the housing for maintaining said flexible element in taut condition through said passage, adaptors for seating on said opposite seats of the housing, and means for fastening said adaptors on said seats, said adaptors having aligned apertures arranged to be in a line of sight with said taut flexible element when the housing is predeterminately straight.

2. Apparatus for determining the straightness of an axle housing of the type having a longitudi nal passage therethrough and having a central portion provided with transversely opposite communicating openings defining outwardly presented seats, comprising means for supporting the housing, an elongated flexible element, means applicable to opposite ends orthe housing for maintaining said flexible element in taut condition through said passage, adaptors for seating on said opposite seats of the housing, and means for fastening said adaptors on said seats, said adaptors having aligned apertures arranged to be in a line of sight with said taut flexible element when the axle housing is predeterminately straight, said adaptors including means for measuring the location of said taut element in the direction of said line of sight.

3. Apparatus for determining the straightness of an axl housing of the type having a longitudinal passage therethroughv and having a longitudinally central portion provided with transversely opposite communicating openings, and being supported at spaced points for applying opposed straightening pressure thereto, comprising an elongated flexible element, orienting means applicable to opposite ends of the housing for maintaining said flexible element in taut condition through said passage, adaptors for seating on said opposite sides of the housing, and means for fastening said adaptors on said opposite sides of the housing in cooperation with opposite communicating openings, said adaptors having aligned apertures arranged to be in a line of sight with said taut flexible element when the axle housing is predeterminately straight.

4. Apparatus for determining the straightness of an axle housing of the type having a longitudinal passage therethrough and having a longitudinally central portion provided with transversely opposite communicating openings, and being supported at spaced points for applying opposed straightening pressure thereto, comprising an elongated flexible element, orienting means applicable to opposite ends of the housing for maintaining said flexible element in taut condition through said passage, adaptors for seating on said opposite sides of the housing, and means for fastening said adaptors on said opposit sides of the housing in cooperation with opposite communicating openings, said adaptors having aligned apertures arranged to be in a line of sight with said taut flexible element when the axle housing is predeterminately straight, said adaptors including means for measuring the cation of said taut element between the same in the direction of said line of sight.

5. Apparatus for determining the straightness 'of an axle housing of the type having a longitudinal passage therethrough and having a longitudinally central portion provided with transversely opposite communicating openings defining outwardly presented seats having spaced bolt apertures therein for the usual axle housing fittings or parts, and being supported at spaced points for applying opposed straightening pressure thereto, comprising an elongated flexible element, orienting means applicable to opposite ends of the housing for maintaining said flexible element in taut condition through said passage, adaptors for seating on said opposite seats of the housing, and means for fastening said adaptors on said seats through said bolt apertures, said adaptors having aligned apertures arranged to be in a line of sight with said taut flexible element when the axle housing is predeterminately straight, said adaptors including means for measuring the location of said taut element between the same in the direction of said line of sight.

6. Apparatus for determining the straightness of an axle housing of the type having a 1ong1tudinal passage therethrough and having a central portion provided with transversely opposite communicating openings defining outwardly presented seats having spaced bolt apertures therein for the usual axle housing fittings or parts, comprising means for supporting the housing, caps having means thereon for removably mounting the same at opposite ends of a housing to be straightened, guide means on said caps, a flexible element receivable through said passage and over said guide means of said caps, means at opposite ends of said flexible element for maintaining the same in taut condition between the caps, adaptors for seating on said opposite seats of the housing, and means for fastening said adaptors on said seats through said bolt apertures, said adaptors having aligned apertures arranged to be in a line of sight with said taut flexible element when the axle housing is predeterminately straight, said adaptors including means for measuring the location of said taut element in the direction of said line of sight.

7. Apparatus for determining the straightness of an axle housing of the type having a longitudinal passage therethrough and having a central portion provided with transversely opposite communicating openings defining outwardly presented seats having spaced bolt apertures therein for the usual axle housing fittings or parts, and being supported at spaced points for applying opposed straightening pressure thereto, comprising caps having means thereon for removably mounting the same at opposite ends of a housing to be straightened, centering guide means on said caps, a flexible element receivable through said passage and over said guide means of said caps, means at opposite ends of said flexible element for maintaining the same in taut condition between said guide means, adaptors for seating on said opposite seats of the housing, and means for fastening said adaptors on said seats through said bolt apertures, said adaptors having aligned apertures arranged to be in a line of sight with said taut flexible element when the axle housing is predeterminately straight, said adaptors including means adaptable for measuring the location of said taut element between the same in the direction of said line of sight.

EMMETT L. ROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 529,315 Snyder Nov. 13, 1894 740,975 Driver et a1. Oct. 6, 1903 831,862 Hamilton Sept. 25, 1906 1,239,534 Sponsel Sept. 11, 1917 1,314,945 Camp Sept. 2, 1919 1,503,609 Smith Aug. 5, 1924 1,616,084 Guillet Feb. 1, 1927 1,647,864 Halphen Nov. 1, 1927 2,219,191 Merril et al Oct. 22, 1940 2,241,401 Haskell May 13, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 492,899 France Apr. 7, 1919 

